Gaming system with privacy features

ABSTRACT

A wagering game system includes a peripheral device with a peripheral device display and at least one processor configured to execute at least one application to display information on the peripheral device display. The system also includes a wagering game terminal with a terminal display configured to display a wagering game and a player-accessible interface configured to allow a player to communicatively couple the peripheral device to the wagering game terminal. The at least one application includes a wagering game application relating to the wagering game displayed on the terminal display of the wagering game terminal, and the at least one processor of the peripheral device executes the wagering application to display, on the peripheral device display, wagering game information relating to the wagering game.

CROSS-REFERENCE AND CLAIM OF PRIORITY TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a Continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.13/793,271, which was filed on Mar. 11, 2013, now allowed, and claimsthe benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/735,549, whichwas filed on Dec. 10, 2012, both of which are incorporated by referenceherein in their respective entireties.

COPYRIGHT

A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains materialwhich is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has noobjection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patentdisclosure, as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patentfiles or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rightswhatsoever.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to gaming apparatus and methodsand, more particularly, to gaming apparatus and methods that provideprivacy features.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Gaming terminals, such as slot machines, video poker machines and thelike, have been a cornerstone of the gaming industry for several years.Generally, the popularity of such machines with players is dependent onthe likelihood (or perceived likelihood) of winning money at the machineand the intrinsic entertainment value of the machine relative to otheravailable gaming options. Where the available gaming options include anumber of competing machines and the expectation of winning at eachmachine is roughly the same (or believed to be the same), players arelikely to be attracted to the most entertaining and exciting machines.Shrewd operators consequently strive to employ the most entertaining andexciting machines, features, and enhancements available because suchmachines attract frequent play and hence increase profitability to theoperator. Therefore, there is a continuing need for gaming machinemanufacturers to continuously develop new games and improved gamingenhancements that will attract frequent play through enhancedentertainment value to the player.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In general, elements on screens for wagering games (e.g., credit meters)may reveal some monetary or financial information about a player. Someplayers may want to keep their monetary or financial informationprivate. Additionally, some players may not want to draw attention tothe awards they receive for winning wagers. Accordingly, players mayprefer to make the information provided by the credit meters at a gamingterminal less visible to others. To meet the preferences of theseplayers, aspects of the present invention provide privacy features fordisplaying sensitive information on gaming terminals more discretely.

In one embodiment, a wagering game system includes a peripheral devicewith a peripheral device display and at least one processor configuredto execute at least one application to display information on theperipheral device display. The system also includes a wagering gameterminal with a terminal display configured to display a wagering gameand a player-accessible interface configured to allow a player tocommunicatively couple the peripheral device to the wagering gameterminal. The at least one application includes a wagering gameapplication relating to the wagering game displayed on the terminaldisplay of the wagering game terminal, and the at least one processor ofthe peripheral device executes the wagering application to display, onthe peripheral device display, wagering game information relating to thewagering game. The terminal display and the peripheral device displaymay combine to display the wagering game.

In another embodiment, a wagering game terminal includes a terminaldisplay configured to display a wagering game. The wagering gameterminal also includes a player-accessible interface configured to allowa player to communicatively couple a peripheral device to the wageringgame terminal. The peripheral device includes a peripheral devicedisplay and at least one processor configured to execute a wagering gameapplication relating to the wagering game and to display, on theperipheral device display, wagering game information relating to thewagering game. In response to the execution of the wagering gameapplication on the peripheral device, the terminal display displays thewagering game in combination with the peripheral device displaying thewagering game information.

In the embodiments above, the at least one processor of the peripheraldevice may execute the wagering game application to display, on theperipheral device display, at least one of credit information, wagerinformation, award information, monetary information, and playerinformation.

The wagering game information may include private information that isrestricted from being displayed on the terminal display, and the privateinformation includes at least one of credit information, wagerinformation, award information, monetary information, and playerinformation.

The peripheral device may include an input interface configured toreceive instructions from the player to customize the wagering game, andthe terminal display displays the wagering game according to theinstructions. In response to the instructions, the terminal display maybe restricted from displaying at least one of credit information, awardinformation, monetary information, and player information.

The wagering game application may include a player's accountapplication, and the at least one processor of the peripheral deviceexecutes the player's account application to log the player into thewagering game terminal under a player's account.

The wagering game application may include a player's accountapplication, and the at least one processor of the peripheral deviceexecutes the player's account application to store and displayinformation relating to another wagering game that provides an awardbased on a plurality of outcomes from one or more wagering games.

The wagering game application may include a money transfer applicationthat is electronically coupled to a monetary account, and the at leastone processor of the peripheral device executes the money transferapplication to transfer money between the wagering game terminal and themonetary account, the wagering game terminal receiving portions of themoney from the player for wagers for the wagering game or awarding otherportions of the money to the player for outcomes of the wagering game.

The peripheral device may further include at least one of a tactileoutput device and an audio output device, and the at least one processorof the peripheral device executes the wagering application to furtherprovide the wagering game information via at least one of the tactileoutput device and the audio output device, the terminal displaydisplaying the wagering game to correspond with the peripheral devicefurther providing the wagering game information via at least one of thetactile output device and the audio output device.

The interface may be a docking station that is configured to receive theperipheral device and establish communications between the peripheraldevice and the wagering game terminal. The peripheral device, whenreceived by the docking station, may provide a secondary display for thewagering game at the bottom of the terminal display.

The interface may be a wireless interface.

Additional aspects of the invention will be apparent to those ofordinary skill in the art in view of the detailed description of variousembodiments, which is made with reference to the drawings, a briefdescription of which is provided below.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates an example free-standing gaming terminal according toan embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 illustrates a gaming system according to an embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 3 illustrates an example reel-based game screen of a wagering gamedisplayed on a gaming terminal, according to an embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIGS. 4A-B illustrates an example gaming terminal that includes adocking interface for receiving and communicating with a peripheraldevice, according to aspects of the present invention.

FIG. 4C illustrates the peripheral device employed with the examplegaming terminal of FIGS. 4A-B, according to aspects of the presentinvention.

FIG. 5 illustrates an example combined operation of the gaming terminaland the peripheral device, according to aspects of the presentinvention.

FIG. 6 illustrates another example gaming terminal that includes adocking interface for receiving and communicating with a peripheraldevice, according to aspects of the present invention.

FIG. 7 illustrates yet another example gaming terminal that includes adocking interface for receiving and communicating with a peripheraldevice, according to aspects of the present invention.

While the invention is susceptible to various modifications andalternative forms, specific embodiments have been shown by way ofexample in the drawings and will be described in detail herein. Itshould be understood, however, that the invention is not intended to belimited to the particular forms disclosed. Rather, the invention is tocover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling withinthe spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

While this invention is susceptible of embodiment in many differentforms, there is shown in the drawings and will herein be described indetail preferred embodiments of the invention with the understandingthat the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification ofthe principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the broadaspect of the invention to the embodiments illustrated. For purposes ofthe present detailed description, the singular includes the plural andvice versa (unless specifically disclaimed); the words “and” and “or”shall be both conjunctive and disjunctive; the word “all” means “any andall”; the word “any” means “any and all”; and the word “including” means“including without limitation.”

For purposes of the present detailed description, the terms “wageringgames,” “gambling,” “slot game,” “casino game,” and the like includegames in which a player places at risk a sum of money or otherrepresentation of value, whether or not redeemable for cash, on an eventwith an uncertain outcome, including without limitation those havingsome element of skill. In some embodiments, the wagering game mayinvolve wagers of real money, as found with typical land-based oron-line casino games. In other embodiments, the wagering game mayadditionally, or alternatively, involve wagers of non-cash values, suchas virtual currency, and therefore may be considered a social or casualgame, such as would be typically available on a social networking website, other web sites, across computer networks, or applications onmobile devices (e.g., phones, tablets, etc.). When provided in a socialor casual game format, the wagering game may closely resemble atraditional casino game, or it may take another form that more closelyresembles other types of social/casual games. In some cases, the use ofvirtual currency issued by a gaming establishment, wagering gamemanufacturer, etc., may foster loyalty to that gaming establishment,wagering game manufacturer, etc., because the virtual currency isnon-fungible and limited to uses associated with the particularinstitutions. In further embodiments, the wagering game may involve theawarding of non-cash awards, coupons, etc. In yet further embodiments,the wagering game may involve a mixture of real, virtual money, and/ornon-cash awards.

Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown a gaming terminal 10 similar tothose used in gaming establishments, such as casinos. With regard to thepresent invention, the gaming terminal 10 may be any type of gamingterminal and may have varying structures and methods of operation. Forexample, in some aspects, the gaming terminal 10 is an electromechanicalgaming terminal configured to play mechanical slots, whereas in otheraspects, the gaming terminal is an electronic gaming terminal configuredto play a video casino game, such as slots, keno, poker, blackjack,roulette, craps, etc. The gaming terminal 10 may take any suitable form,such as floor-standing models as shown, handheld mobile units, bartopmodels, workstation-type console models, etc. Further, the gamingterminal 10 may be primarily dedicated for use in conducting wageringgames, or may include non-dedicated devices, such as mobile phones,personal digital assistants, personal computers, etc. Exemplary types ofgaming terminals are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,517,433 and PatentApplication Publication Nos. US2010/0069160 and US2010/0234099, whichare incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.

The gaming terminal 10 illustrated in FIG. 1 comprises a cabinet 11 thatmay house various input devices, output devices, and input/outputdevices. By way of example, the gaming terminal 10 includes a primarydisplay area 12, a secondary display area 14, and one or more audiospeakers 16. The primary display area 12 or the secondary display area14 may be a mechanical-reel display, a video display, or a combinationthereof in which a transmissive video display is disposed in front ofthe mechanical-reel display to portray a video image superimposed uponthe mechanical-reel display. The display areas may variously displayinformation associated with wagering games, non-wagering games,community games, progressives, advertisements, services, premiumentertainment, text messaging, emails, alerts, announcements, broadcastinformation, subscription information, etc. appropriate to theparticular mode(s) of operation of the gaming terminal 10. The gamingterminal 10 includes a touch screen(s) 18 mounted over the primary orsecondary areas, buttons 20 on a button panel, bill validator 22,information reader/writer(s) 24, and player-accessible port(s) 26 (e.g.,audio output jack for headphones, video headset jack, USB port, wirelesstransmitter/receiver, etc.). It should be understood that numerous otherperipheral devices and other elements exist and are readily utilizablein any number of combinations to create various forms of a gamingterminal in accord with the present concepts.

Input devices, such as the touch screen 18, buttons 20, a mouse, ajoystick, a gesture-sensing device, a voice-recognition device, and avirtual input device, accept player input(s) and transform the playerinput(s) to electronic data signals indicative of the player input(s),which correspond to an enabled feature for such input(s) at a time ofactivation (e.g., pressing a “Max Bet” button or soft key to indicate aplayer's desire to place a maximum wager to play the wagering game). Theinput(s), once transformed into electronic data signals, are output to aCPU for processing. The electronic data signals are selected from agroup consisting essentially of an electrical current, an electricalvoltage, an electrical charge, an optical signal, an optical element, amagnetic signal, and a magnetic element.

Turning now to FIG. 2, there is shown a block diagram of the gamingterminal architecture. The gaming terminal 10 includes a centralprocessing unit (CPU) 30 connected to a main memory 32. The CPU 30 mayinclude any suitable processor(s), such as those made by Intel and AMD.By way of example, the CPU 30 includes a plurality of microprocessorsincluding a master processor, a slave processor, and a secondary orparallel processor. CPU 30, as used herein, comprises any combination ofhardware, software, or firmware disposed in or outside of the gamingterminal 10 that is configured to communicate with or control thetransfer of data between the gaming terminal 10 and a bus, anothercomputer, processor, device, service, or network. The CPU 30 comprisesone or more controllers or processors and such one or more controllersor processors need not be disposed proximal to one another and may belocated in different devices or in different locations. The CPU 30 isoperable to execute all of the various gaming methods and otherprocesses disclosed herein. The main memory 32 includes a wagering gameunit 34. In one embodiment, the wagering game unit 34 may presentwagering games, such as video poker, video black jack, video slots,video lottery, etc., in whole or part.

The CPU 30 is also connected to an input/output (I/O) bus 36, which caninclude any suitable bus technologies, such as an AGTL+frontside bus anda PCI backside bus. The I/O bus 36 is connected to various input devices38, output devices 40, and input/output devices 42 such as thosediscussed above in connection with FIG. 1. The I/O bus 36 is alsoconnected to storage unit 44 and external system interface 46, which isconnected to external system(s) 48 (e.g., wagering game networks).

The external system 48 includes, in various aspects, a gaming network,other gaming terminals, a gaming server, a remote controller,communications hardware, or a variety of other interfaced systems orcomponents, in any combination. In yet other aspects, the externalsystem 48 may comprise a player's portable electronic device (e.g.,cellular phone, electronic wallet, etc.) and the external systeminterface 46 is configured to facilitate wireless communication and datatransfer between the portable electronic device and the CPU 30, such asby a near-field communication path operating via magnetic-fieldinduction or a frequency-hopping spread spectrum RF signals (e.g.,BLUETOOTH®, etc.).

The gaming terminal 10 optionally communicates with the external system48 such that the terminal operates as a thin, thick, or intermediateclient. In general, a wagering game includes an RNG for generating arandom number, game logic for determining the outcome based on therandomly generated number, and game assets (e.g., art, sound, etc.) forpresenting the determined outcome to a player in an audio-visual manner.The RNG, game logic, and game assets are contained within the gamingterminal 10 (“thick client” gaming terminal), the external system 48(“thin client” gaming terminal), or are distributed therebetween in anysuitable manner (“intermediate client” gaming terminal).

The gaming terminal 10 may include additional peripheral devices or morethan one of each component shown in FIG. 2. Any component of the gamingterminal architecture may include hardware, firmware, or tangiblemachine-readable storage media including instructions for performing theoperations described herein. Machine-readable storage media includes anymechanism that stores information and provides the information in a formreadable by a machine (e.g., gaming terminal, computer, etc.). Forexample, machine-readable storage media includes read only memory (ROM),random access memory (RAM), magnetic disk storage media, optical storagemedia, flash memory, etc.

Referring now to FIG. 3, there is illustrated an image of a game screen50, which may be displayed, for example, on the primary display area 12or the secondary display area 14 to present the result of a reel-basedwagering game. The reel-based game screen 50 portrays a plurality ofsimulated symbol-bearing reels 52. Alternatively or additionally, thegame screen 50 portrays a plurality of mechanical reels or other videoor mechanical presentation consistent with the game format and theme.The game screen 50 also displays one or more game-session credit meters54 and various touch screen buttons 56 adapted to be actuated by aplayer. A player can operate or interact with the wagering game usingthese touch screen buttons or other input devices such as the buttons 20shown in FIG. 1. The CPU 30 operate(s) to execute a wagering gameprogram causing the primary display area 12 or the secondary displayarea 14 to display the wagering game.

In response to receiving a wager, the reels 52, as shown on the gamescreen 50, are rotated and stopped to place symbols on the reels invisual association, for example, with paylines 58. The wagering gameevaluates the displayed array of symbols on the stopped reels andprovides immediate awards and bonus features in accordance with a paytable. The pay table may, for example, include “line pays” or “scatterpays.” Line pays occur when a predetermined type and number of symbolsappear along an activated payline, typically in a particular order suchas left to right, right to left, top to bottom, bottom to top, etc.Scatter pays occur when a predetermined type and number of symbolsappear anywhere in the displayed array without regard to position orpaylines. Similarly, the wagering game may trigger bonus features basedon one or more bonus triggering symbols appearing along an activatedpayline (i.e., “line trigger”) or anywhere in the displayed array (i.e.,“scatter trigger”). The wagering game may also provide mystery awardsand features independent of the symbols appearing in the displayedarray.

In accord with various methods of conducting a wagering game on a gamingsystem in accord with the present concepts, the wagering game includes agame sequence in which a player makes a wager and a wagering gameoutcome is provided or displayed in response to the wager being receivedor detected. The wagering game outcome is then revealed to the player indue course following initiation of the wagering game. The methodcomprises the acts of conducting the wagering game using a gamingapparatus, such as the gaming terminal 10 depicted in FIG. 1, followingreceipt of an input from the player to initiate the wagering game. Thegaming terminal 10 then communicates the wagering game outcome to theplayer via one or more output devices (e.g., primary display 12 orsecondary display 14) through the display of information such as, butnot limited to, text, graphics, static images, moving images, etc., orany combination thereof. In accord with the method of conducting thewagering game, the CPU transforms a physical player input, such as aplayer's pressing of a “Spin Reels” touch key, into an electronic datasignal indicative of an instruction relating to the wagering game (e.g.,an electronic data signal bearing data on a wager amount).

In the aforementioned method, for each data signal, the CPU (e.g., CPU30) is configured to process the electronic data signal, to interpretthe data signal (e.g., data signals corresponding to a wager input), andto cause further actions associated with the interpretation of thesignal in accord with computer instructions relating to such furtheractions executed by the controller. As one example, the CPU causes therecording of a digital representation of the wager in one or morestorage media (e.g., storage unit 44), the CPU, in accord withassociated computer instructions, causing the changing of a state of thestorage media from a first state to a second state. This change in stateis, for example, effected by changing a magnetization pattern on amagnetically coated surface of a magnetic storage media or changing amagnetic state of a ferromagnetic surface of a magneto-optical discstorage media, a change in state of transistors or capacitors in avolatile or a non-volatile semiconductor memory (e.g., DRAM), etc. Thenoted second state of the data storage media comprises storage in thestorage media of data representing the electronic data signal from theCPU (e.g., the wager in the present example). As another example, theCPU further, in accord with the execution of the instructions relatingto the wagering game, causes the primary display 12, other displaydevice, or other output device (e.g., speakers, lights, communicationdevice, etc.) to change from a first state to at least a second state,wherein the second state of the primary display comprises a visualrepresentation of the physical player input (e.g., an acknowledgement toa player), information relating to the physical player input (e.g., anindication of the wager amount), a game sequence, an outcome of the gamesequence, or any combination thereof, wherein the game sequence inaccord with the present concepts comprises acts described herein. Theaforementioned executing of computer instructions relating to thewagering game is further conducted in accord with a random outcome(e.g., determined by a RNG) that is used by the CPU to determine theoutcome of the game sequence, using a game logic for determining theoutcome based on the randomly generated number. In at least someaspects, the CPU is configured to determine an outcome of the gamesequence at least partially in response to the random parameter.

As described above, the game screen 50 displays one or more game-sessioncredit meters 54. As shown in FIG. 3, the credit meters 54 indicate thenumber of total credits available for making wagers, the number ofpaylines selected for the current wager, the number of credits wageredfor each selected payline in the current wager, the number of totalcredits currently wagered, and the number of credits awarded for thecurrent wager. When the game screen 50 is shown on the primary display12 or the secondary display 14, the credit meters 54 may be visible toanyone in the area around the gaming terminal 10. In other words, theinformation shown in the credit meters 54 can also be seen by people whoare not playing the wagering game on the gaming terminal 10.

The number of total credits available for making wagers indicates howmuch the player has put into the gaming terminal 10 for wagers and/orhow much the player has won or lost from playing the wagering game. Ifthe number of total credits available is redeemable for money, thenumber of total credits indicates how much money the player currentlypossesses. In addition, the number credits currently wagered mayindicate how much the player can afford to wager. In general, the creditmeters 54 reveal some monetary or financial information about theplayer. Some players may want to keep their monetary or financialinformation private. Additionally, some players may not want to drawattention to the awards they receive for winning wagers. Accordingly,players may prefer to make the information provided by the credit metersat a gaming terminal less visible to others. To meet the preferences ofthese players, aspects of the present invention provide privacy featuresfor displaying sensitive information on gaming terminals morediscretely.

Referring to FIGS. 4A-B, an example gaming terminal 110 with privacyfeatures is illustrated. Among other features, the gaming terminal 110includes a display area 112 for displaying a game screen 150 of awagering game and a button panel with buttons (and/or other inputdevices) 120 that receive input from the player for operating the gamingterminal 110 and playing the wagering game. Unlike the gaming terminal10 described above, however, the gaming terminal 110 includes a dockinginterface 190 for receiving a peripheral device 210, such as a tabletcomputer (e.g., APPLE® iPAD®), smart phone (e.g., APPLE® iPHONE®), orother portable computing device. The docking interface 190 is compatiblewith a connector provided by the peripheral device 210 (e.g.,conventional APPLE® iPAD® or APPLE® iPHONE® connector). In addition toestablishing communications between the gaming terminal 110 and theperipheral device 210, the docking interface 190 in some cases mat alsosupply electrical power to the peripheral device 210 to recharge abattery in the peripheral device 210.

As shown in FIG. 4A, the docking interface 190 is disposed on a frontpanel 115 of the gaming terminal 110, between the buttons 120 and thedisplay 112. FIG. 4B illustrates how the display 212 of the peripheraldevice 210 and the display area 112 of the gaming terminal 100 combineto present information relating to a wagering game. The terminal display112 displays the game screen 150 with graphical elements, e.g., reels152, which indicate the outcome of the wagering game. Meanwhile, theperipheral device 210 displays credit meters 254 corresponding to thewagering game shown on the terminal display 112. FIG. 4C illustrates theperipheral device 210 separate from the gaming terminal 110 and moreclearly shows the credit meters 254. Although the credit meters in FIG.4C only provide the number of total credits available for wagers and thenumber of credits currently being wagered, it is understood that theperipheral device 210 may display any combination of informationrelating to credits, wagers, payouts, etc. In some cases, all suchinformation may be completely removed from the displays 112, 114 of thegaming terminal 110 and displayed exclusively on the peripheral device210. In other cases, the credit meters showing numerical information maybe displayed on the peripheral device 210, while the displays 112 and/or114 may display non-numerical indicators for some information relatingto credits, wagers, payouts, etc.

The docking interface 190 positions the peripheral device 210 away fromthe terminal display 112 and closer to the player standing in front ofthe gaming terminal 110. As such, the player's body helps to blockothers from easily viewing the peripheral device display 212. Inaddition, the peripheral device display 212 is generally smaller thanthe primary and secondary displays 112 and 114 of the gaming terminal110, so the information displayed by the peripheral device 212 is lessvisible to others. For example, the peripheral display device 212 may beapproximately between 5 inches and 9 inches. Furthermore, the peripheraldevice display 212 can employ a font size that makes the credit meters254 more difficult for others to see. Based on the position andorientation of the peripheral device 210, the size of the peripheraldevice display 212, and how the information is displayed on theperipheral device display 212, the peripheral device display 212displays information more discretely than the terminal display 112.

FIG. 5 illustrates example aspects of the combined operation of thegaming terminal 110 and the peripheral device 210. As shown in FIG. 5,the peripheral device 210 includes at least one processor 230 and memory(computer-readable storage media) 232 that stores at least oneapplication as computer-executable instructions. In particular, the atleast one processor 230 executes a wagering game application 234 todisplay, on the peripheral device display 212, information relating tothe wagering game being played on the gaming terminal 110. To coordinatethe display of information between the peripheral device 210 and thegaming terminal 110, the at least one processor 230 communicates withthe gaming terminal 110 via the docking interface 190.

In some embodiments, the wagering game application 234 can only beemployed with a specific type of wagering game. As such, the player maybe required to install a plurality of wagering game applications to usethe peripheral device 210 with a variety of types of wagering games.

In other embodiments, the wagering game application 234 is a generalapplication that can be employed with a variety of wagering gamesassociated, for example, with a gaming establishment or a gamingterminal manufacturer. Advantageously, in such embodiments, the playeris only required to install a single wagering game application to usethe peripheral device 210 with a variety of types of wagering games.

The wagering game application 234 itself and updates to the application234 may be downloaded, for example, from a conventional onlineapplication store or from a specific online resource provided by thegaming establishment or a gaming terminal manufacturer. In alternativeembodiments, the wagering game application 234 does not provide aspecially developed interface for the application screen 250; instead,the wagering game application 234 may use a standard web browserprovided by the peripheral device 210 as an interface. For example, thewagering game application 234 may be a Java-based application that runsthrough a standard web browser provided by the peripheral device 210.

Similar to the gaming terminal 10 shown in FIG. 2, the gaming terminal110 includes at least one processor 130 that executes a wagering gameunit 134 stored on a memory 132. The player operates or interacts withthe wagering game using the input devices, etc., on the gaming terminal110 as described above. In response, the gaming terminal 110 displaysinformation 155 and visual elements (e.g., reels) relating to thewagering game on the wagering game screen 150 via the display area 112.Rather than displaying all wagering game information on the display area112, however, the gaming terminal 110 sends certain other information255 to the peripheral device 210 via the docking interface 190. Thewagering game application 234 then presents the information 255 on anapplication screen 250 on the peripheral device display 212.Accordingly, the gaming terminal 110 and the peripheral device 210combine to provide the player with information for playing the wageringgame. In particular, the wagering game application 234 may display anytype of information 255, e.g., credit information, wager information,award information, monetary information, player information, etc., thatthe player may want to remain less visible when playing a wagering gameon the gaming terminal 110. In general, the gaming machine 110 maycommunicate any information or visual elements associated with thewagering game for display on the peripheral device 210.

To establish communications between the gaming terminal 110 and theperipheral device 210, the player may log into the gaming terminal 110through a login feature 262 provided by the wagering game application234. As shown in FIG. 4C, the wagering game application 234 displays anexample selectable icon for the login feature 262 (labeled “MY SLOT SIGNIN”) on the application screen 250. The player selects the login feature262 from the screen 250 to initiate a login process, which for exampleprovides data entry fields that receive username and passwordinformation from the player. The peripheral device 210 communicates thislogin information to the gaming terminal 110, which can then permit theplayer to use the peripheral device 210 with the gaming terminal 110. Insome embodiments, the login information may be conveniently stored bythe wagering game application 234 after initial entry, so that theplayer is automatically logged into the gaming terminal 110 when itdetects that the docking interface 190 has received the peripheraldevice 210. By using the peripheral device 210 to log into the gamingterminal 110, personal information, such as the player's name, may bediscretely shown on the peripheral device 210, rather than the gamingterminal 110.

In some embodiments, the login feature 264 may be tied to a generalplayer's account in an account-based gaming system. For example, thelogin feature 264 may be associated with a player loyalty program with agaming institution, where the peripheral device 210 effectively acts asa player's card when it is connected with the gaming terminal 110. Thewagering game application 234 may discretely show any informationassociated with the player's account on the peripheral device 210.

In addition to tracking loyalty points for the player's account, thewagering game application 234 may be used for other gaming features thatare uniquely tied to the individual player and that maintain the tiewith the player across any number of wagering game sessions. Forexample, the wagering game application 234 may track a personalprogressive award. The personal progressive award is similar in manyrespects to a conventional progressive award, but the personalprogressive award only grows in response to the individual player'sactivity and is only awarded to the individual player when apredetermined award occurs. The wagering game application 234 discretelydisplays information (e.g., an award meter) relating to the personalprogressive award. In some cases, the information relating to personalprogressive award is maintained centrally by an account based wageringsystem, which the wagering game application 234 accesses by loggingthrough the gaming terminal 110. In other cases, wagering gameapplication 234 maintains the information locally on the peripheraldevice 210.

In another example, to encourage a player to keep playing at the gamingterminal 110, the player may accumulate some time-based benefit, e.g.,airline miles, extra loyalty points, etc., during a single gamingsession. The more time the player remains at the gaming terminal 110,the greater benefit that the player earns. The wagering game application234 may discretely display information (e.g., a benefit meter) relatingto the benefit accumulated. In some cases, the information relating tothe benefit is maintained centrally by an account based wagering system,which the wagering game application 234 accesses by logging through thegaming terminal 110. In other cases, wagering game application 234maintains the information locally on the peripheral device 210.

In addition, the wagering game application 234 may provide acustomization tool 264 that allows the player to instruct the gamingterminal 110 what information should be displayed on the terminaldisplay 112 and what information should be displayed on the peripheraldevice display 212. As shown in FIG. 4C, the wagering game application234 displays an example selectable icon for the customization tool 264(labeled “SETTINGS”) on the application screen 250. For example, withthe tool 264, the player may customize the wagering game to display, onthe peripheral device display 212, credit meters 254 that provide thenumber of total credits available for wagers and credit and the numberof credits currently being wagered.

The customization tool 264 may also allow the player to customize otheraspects of the wagering game. For example, as described above, someplayers may not want to draw attention to the awards they receive forwinning wagers. As such, the player may employ the customization tool264 to turn off, or reduce, any audio and/or visual feedback from thegaming terminal 110 signaling a winning outcome and/or payout. Indeed,using the customization tool 264, the player may elect to use theperipheral device 210, rather than the gaming terminal 110, to receiveaudio and/or visual feedback signaling a winning outcome and/or payout.Any audio feedback from the peripheral device 200 can be discretelycommunicated to the player through speakers at a reduced volume orthrough headphones. Furthermore, the player may additionally use theperipheral device 200 to provide tactile feedback, e.g., vibration, tosignal a winning outcome and/or award. Accordingly, the customizationtool 264 allows the player to determine how he/she is alerted withwinning outcomes/awards.

In some cases, suppression of audio and/or visual feedback from thegaming terminal 110 may depend on a threshold set for an award. Thethreshold may be set by the player and/or the gaming establishment. Ifthe award is less than the threshold, the gaming terminal 110 providesconventional audio and/or visual feedback. Otherwise, the peripheraldevice 210 discretely signals the winning outcome/award. The thresholdallows the gaming establishment to generate interest and excitement byshowing other players that the gaming terminal 110 is producing winningoutcomes, while also accommodating the player's desire for privacy whenwinning a large award. In general, the wagering game application 234allows the player to configure the behavior of the gaming terminal 110for high award wins and other events that may draw attention from othersand make them aware of a significant change in the player's monetarystatus.

Alternatively or additionally, the customization tool 264 may allow theplayer to set other types of alerts on the peripheral device 210. Forexample, the wagering game application 234 may be configured to provideaudio (e.g., beep) or tactile (e.g., vibrate) alerts when the player'scredit limit reaches a high and/or low limit, thereby notifying theplayer to transfer money to or from the gaming terminal 110.

Using the customization tool 264, the player may customize some of thecontent displayed by the primary wagering game screen 150 of the gamingterminal 110 and/or the application screen 250 of the peripheral device210. In some embodiments, the player may select a particular theme forthe wagering game. For example, the player may select a theme where reelsymbols correspond to characters in a movie or book. In otherembodiments, the player may select a particular visualbackground/wallpaper, color scheme, font scheme, etc., for the wageringgame screens 150 and/or 250. Furthermore, the player may select acelebration theme (including audio, visual, and/or tactile feedback) forwinning outcomes/awards communicated by the peripheral device 210.

In some cases, the customization tool 264 may provide a plurality ofcustomization options from which the player may select. In other cases,the customization tool 264 may allow the player to develop his/her owncustomization options. For example, the player may be permitted toimport a photograph taken with the peripheral device 210 into thewagering game application 234 and the photographed image may be used forsome aspect of the wagering game screen 150 and/or 250, e.g., a reelsymbol, visual background/wallpaper, etc.

Advantageously, the customization tool 264 may be able to save theplayer's selections and preferences, so that they can be recalled andreapplied when the peripheral device 210 is coupled to the same or othergaming terminal. The portability of the peripheral device 210 allows theplayer to enjoy a customized gaming experience even when playingdifferent gaming terminals at different times.

The wagering game application 234 may also provide a money transferfeature 266 that allows the player to manage the process for cashing outfrom the gaming terminal 110. (In alternative embodiments, theperipheral device 210 only displays monetary information and does nothandle any transfer of money.) As shown in FIG. 4C, the wagering gameapplication 234 displays a selectable icon for the money transferfunction 266 (labeled “CASH OUT”) on the application screen 250. In someembodiments, the money transfer function 266 may function in a mannersimilar to a button on the gaming terminal for cashing out (e.g.,“COLLECT” button shown in FIG. 3). Because the player's operation of theperipheral device 210 is less visible, the player can discretely cashout from the gaming terminal 110 through the money transfer function 266on the peripheral device 110.

In some embodiments, the money transfer function 266 provides furtherprivacy by allowing the cash out to occur through the peripheral device210. In other words, the cash out (in the form of cash, redeemablecoupon, etc.) does not occur physically through a device on the gamingterminal 110. Instead, the gaming machine 110 communicates the cash outinformation to the peripheral device 210, which the player uses tohandle the remaining process of cashing out. In some cases, the awardmay be recorded on the peripheral device 210, which can then besubsequently presented, for example, to a cashier at the gamingestablishment to redeem the award. For example, the money transferfeature 266 may record the award as an image, such as a UPC barcode or amatrix barcode (e.g., Quick Response (QR) Code), on the peripheraldevice 210. The image can then be subsequently scanned or otherwiseevaluated for redemption. In some cases, other gaming machines may beconfigured to receive money, credits, etc. associated with the awardrecorded on the peripheral device 210, i.e., the award is used on othergaming terminals by transferring the award from the peripheral device210.

In other cases, the peripheral device 210 may be able to communicateover a network, e.g., via a cellular or wi-fi wireless network, toaccess a monetary account for the player. The monetary account mayreside at a financial institution or any other system, including, forexample, an account system maintained by a gaming establishment.Accordingly, the money transfer feature 266 can directly deposit moneyfrom the gaming machine 110 to the player's monetary account when theplayer cashes out.

In further embodiments, the money transfer function 266 may also allowthe player to withdraw money directly from the monetary account to makewagers on the gaming terminal 110. Because the player's operation of theperipheral device 210 is less visible, the player can transfer moneyelectronically to and from the gaming machine 110 via the peripheraldevice 210 more discretely. For example, the player does not have to putcurrency physically into the gaming machine 110, an act that is moreeasily witnessed by others.

The wagering game application 234 may also provide a help feature 268that allows the player to obtain information about aspects of thewagering game, the gaming terminal 110, and/or the wagering gameapplication 234 itself. As shown in FIG. 4C, the wagering gameapplication 234 displays a selectable icon for the help feature 268(labeled “HELP/PAYS”) on the application screen 250. The informationavailable through the help feature 268 may include an organized list ofhelp topics, searchable help text, answers to a list of frequently askedquestions, a list of tips and hints, demonstrations, simulations, etc.The information may be presented in audio and/or visual format. Inaddition, the help feature 268 may also provide information on theawards paid out by the wagering game, e.g., a paytable. In some wageringgames, the paytable may change according to the amount wagered as wellas the occurrence of other events in the wagering game. The player mayprefer to keep the sizes of possible awards less visible, particularlyif they may indicate the size of the player's wagers. Accordingly, thewagering game application 234 may also be employed to discretely displayaward information for the wagering game.

In addition to the login feature 262, the customization tool 264, themoney transfer feature 266, and the help feature 268, the wagering gameapplication 234 may provide other features. In some cases, the wageringgame application 234 may allow the peripheral device 210 to act as abutton panel for operating aspects of the gaming terminal 110 and/orplaying the wagering game. For example, as shown in FIG. 4C, thewagering game application 234 displays a denomination icon 270 (labeled“DENOM”) on the application screen 250. In some embodiments, thedenomination icon 270 allows the player to select and/or display thedenomination for the wagers placed for the wagering game. Thedenomination indicates the level of wagers placed by the player, and assuch, the player may prefer the denomination to be discretely selectedand/or displayed on the peripheral device 210, rather than the gamingterminal 110.

Like the money transfer feature 266, other features of the wagering gameapplication 234 may access network communications available through theperipheral device 210. For example, the wagering game application 234may communicate with sites on the Internet. In particular, the wageringgame application 234 may communicate with social media sites (e.g.,FACEBOOK®), multimedia posting sites (e.g., YOUTUBE®), electronic mailsystems (e.g., GMAIL®). While the player may want not want to attractattention from the public while playing a wagering game at the gamingterminal 110, the player can selectively choose to share some aspect ofthe gaming experience with family and friends over the Internet. Forinstance, when the gaming terminal 110 communicates a winningoutcome/award to the peripheral device 110, the wagering gameapplication 234 may present audiovisual content that alerts the playerabout the winning outcome/award. The wagering game application 234 maysave this content and allow the player to send or post the content overthe Internet to share with selected people.

In further embodiments, the wagering game application 234 may provideonline access to other content, services, etc. For example, the playermay be able to access hospitality services in association with thegaming establishment.

In general, FIGS. 4A-C illustrate a peripheral device 210 that isemployed in combination with the gaming terminal 110. The peripheraldevice 210 executes an application 234 that relates to the wagering gameof the gaming terminal 110. The wagering game application 234 allowsselected information relating to the wagering game to be displayed onthe peripheral device 110. To accommodate the privacy preferences of theplayer, the peripheral device 110 may discretely display creditinformation, wager information, award information, monetary information,and/or player information. However, it is contemplated that otherinformation may be selectively shown on the peripheral device 210,rather than the gaming terminal 110.

Advantageously, the features provided by aspects of the presentinvention attract players who prefer to keep their monetary or financialinformation private. Moreover, such features may encourage players toput more money into gaming terminals and place larger wagers becausethis information is not visible to others. In addition, to attractplayers, the wagering game application 234 can provide other features,particularly to customize and personalize aspects of the gamingexperience.

As shown in the FIGS. 4A-C, the gaming machine 110 is compatible with atablet computer. In general, people are employing tablet computers for agrowing number and variety of applications. Indeed, embodiments of thepresent invention identify new approaches for using tablet computerswith gaming terminals. Advantageously, the popularity of tabletcomputers further attracts players to such embodiments.

Tablet computers typically receive user inputs via a touch display.Accordingly, in embodiments employing tablet computers, the peripheraldevice display 212 can also receive input from the player. As shown inFIG. 4C, the wagering game application 434 on the peripheral device 210presents an application screen 250 with touch icons for each of thefeatures/tools of the application 434.

Although FIGS. 4A-C may illustrate an embodiment in which a tabletcomputer is docked vertically in the gaming terminal 110, FIGS. 6 and 7show other embodiments that allow selected information to be discretelydisplayed on a more private display. FIG. 6 illustrates a gamingterminal 310 that is similar in many respects to the gaming terminal 10shown in FIG. 1. However, the gaming terminal 310 allows a peripheraldevice 410 similar to a smart phone to be received in a recessed dockinginterface 390 in a substantially horizontal panel along the front of thegaming terminal 310. The peripheral device 410 is positioned closer tothe player standing in front of the gaming terminal 310. As such, theplayer's body helps to block others from easily viewing the display 412of the peripheral device 410. As FIG. 6 illustrates, the display 412 issmaller than the primary display 312 or the secondary display 314 of thegaming terminal 310. In general, the size, position, and orientation ofthe display 412 allow the display 412 to communicate information to theplayer more discretely than the primary display 312 or the secondarydisplay 314. Like the peripheral device 210 described above, theperipheral device 410 can display selected information relating to thewagering game. In particular, the display 412 may discretely displaycredit information, wager information, award information, monetaryinformation, and/or player information. The peripheral device 410 mayalso provide any combination of the features and tools of the wageringgame application 234 described above. For example, the position of theperipheral device 410 proximate to the input devices 320 on the gamingterminal 310 allows the peripheral device 410 to provide controls thatcan be combined with the input devices 320 to control aspects of thegaming terminal 310 and the wagering game.

FIG. 7 also illustrates a gaming terminal 510 that provides many of thefeatures of the gaming terminal 10 shown in FIG. 1. However, the gamingterminal 510 allows the player to be seated in a chair 511 whileoperating the gaming terminal 510. The chair 511 may provide additionalfeatures such as enhanced audio feedback (e.g., via surround soundspeakers) and tactile feedback (e.g., via vibration or movement of thechair). In addition, the gaming terminal 510 allows a peripheral device610 similar to a smart phone to be received in a docking interface 590positioned near the player, e.g., on an armrest of the chair 511. Theperipheral device 610 is positioned closer to the player than a primarydisplay 512 and a secondary display 514 of the gaming terminal 510. Assuch, the peripheral device 610 is less easily viewed than the otherdisplays 512 and 514. In alternative embodiments, the peripheral device610 may be received in a swiveling and/or otherwise adjustable dockinginterface that allows the player to minimize visibility of informationdisplayed by the peripheral device 610 to others.

As FIG. 7 illustrates, the peripheral device 610 includes a display 612that is smaller than the displays 512 and 514. In general, the size,position, and orientation of the display 612 allows the display 312 tocommunicate information to the player more discretely than the displays512 and displays 514. Like the peripheral device 210 described above,the peripheral device 610 can display selected information relating tothe wagering game. In particular, the display 612 may discretely displaycredit information, wager information, award information, monetaryinformation, and/or player information. The peripheral device 610 mayalso provide any combination of the features and tools of the wageringgame application 234 described above. In addition, peripheral device 610may also provide a tool to customize features of the chair 511 so thatfeedback from the chair (audio, tactile, etc.) is also more discrete.Indeed, the speakers on the chair 511 may also be configured to providedirectional and more discrete audio communications to the player. Forexample, speakers may be positioned proximate to the player's ears whenthe player is seated in the chair 511, and such speakers may be employedto discretely communicate (e.g., whisper) information to the player.

Although the gaming terminals of FIGS. 4A-4C, 6, and 7 may employ adocking interface to physically receive a peripheral device, otherembodiments may employ alternative or additional approaches to establishcommunications between the gaming terminal and the peripheral device. Insome embodiments, the gaming terminal and the peripheral device may becoupled by a cable that extends from the gaming terminal. In otherembodiments, the gaming terminal may provide wireless communicationsbetween the gaming terminal and the peripheral device. For example,short range high frequency wireless communication, such as near-fieldcommunication (NFC) or BLUETOOTH®, may be employed to provide securecommunications. In such embodiments, the login feature on the wageringgame application may be employed to establish the secure wirelesscommunication.

For example, the gaming terminal may be provided with a uniqueidentification (e.g., a BLUETOOTH® pairing ID), which can be used topair the peripheral device with the gaming terminal. In someembodiments, secure communications can be further established byrequiring a passkey to be exchanged between the peripheral device andthe gaming terminal (in a manner similar to the way a BLUETOOTH® device(e.g., headset) is paired with a handheld device). For additionalsecurity, communications (e.g., using the BLUETOOTH® wireless dataexchange standard) can be further limited to particular handhelddevices, i.e., pairing with other devices such as laptops, printer, etc.can be disabled. The secure wireless communication allows the player tocash out through the peripheral device, transfer money, etc., asdescribed above.

In embodiments without a docking interface may include a resting place(e.g., a recess) for the peripheral device. In particular, the restingplace may position the peripheral device so that its display is orientedfor discrete communication of communication to the player.

Furthermore, although the embodiments of FIGS. 4A-4C, 6, and 7 mayemploy a docking interface to establish communications between a gamingterminal and a separate peripheral device, aspects of the presentinvention may be achieved by providing a gaming terminal with anadditional integrated display. Rather than using the display of aseparate peripheral device, such embodiments provide an additionalintegrated (e.g., third) display to display selected information morediscretely than the other displays on the gaming terminal (e.g. displays112 and 114 in FIGS. 4A-B). Processors on the gaming terminal itself mayexecute an application similar to the wagering game application 234described above, but the interface, including a display, for theapplication resides on the gaming terminal.

For example, although the gaming terminal 310 in FIG. 6 allows theseparate peripheral device 410 to be received in a recessed dockinginterface 390, alternative embodiments may integrate a display in thelocation of the peripheral device 410. Like the peripheral device 410,the integrated display is positioned closer to the player standing infront of the gaming terminal. As such, the player's body helps to blockothers from easily viewing the integrated display. The integrateddisplay is smaller than the primary display or the secondary display ofthe gaming terminal. In general, the size, position, and orientation ofthe integrated display allow the integrated display to communicateinformation to the player more discretely than the primary display orthe secondary display. Like the peripheral device 410, the integrateddisplay can display selected information relating to the wagering game.In particular, the integrated display may discretely display creditinformation, wager information, award information, monetary information,and/or player information. The integrated display may also provide anycombination of the features and tools of the wagering game application234 described above.

Embodiments with an integrated display device allow players without aseparate peripheral device to enjoy the features described above. Inother embodiments, the gaming terminal may be provided with a displaydevice that is tethered to the gaming terminal and that operates in amanner similar to the peripheral devices described above.

Each of these embodiments and obvious variations thereof is contemplatedas falling within the spirit and scope of the claimed invention, whichis set forth in the following claims. Moreover, the present conceptsexpressly include any and all combinations and subcombinations of thepreceding elements and aspects, regardless of the embodiments referencedin the description of the elements and aspects.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method comprising: detecting, via a firstelectronic input device of a regulated gaming machine, a physical itemassociated with a monetary value that establishes a credit balance;initiating, via game-logic circuitry, a casino wagering game in responseto a wager input indicative of a wager covered by the credit balance;displaying, via at least one electronic display device of the regulatedgaming machine, the casino wagering game; contemporaneously with thedisplaying of the casino wagering game, enabling the regulated gamingmachine to communicate with a peripheral computing device executing agame control application to display restricted information on theperipheral computing device, the restricted information comprisingcredit information, wager information, award information, monetaryinformation, or player information, or any combination thereof, therestricted information being displayed on the peripheral computingdevice and not displayed on the at least one electronic display device;and receiving, via a second input device of the gaming machine, acashout input that initiates a payout from the credit balance.
 2. Themethod of claim 1, wherein the restricted information displayed by thegame control application includes a credit meter indicating a totalnumber of credits available for making wagers, a bet meter indicating acurrent size of the wager, or an award meter indicating a total winamount, if any, from the most recent play of the casino wagering game,or any combination thereof.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein theregulated gaming machine includes a docking station configured tophysically support and electrically connect to the peripheral computingdevice thereby enabling communication therewith.
 4. The method of claim1, wherein the casino wagering game includes a plurality ofsymbol-bearing reels, the method further comprising displaying, via theleast one electronic display device of the regulated gaming machine andnot the peripheral computing device, the symbol-bearing reels spinningand stopping to reveal a randomly determined outcome of the casinowagering game.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the game controlapplication includes a player account interface application, the methodfurther comprising establishing communication between the regulatedgaming machine and an electronic player's account responsive to theperipheral computing device executing the player account interfaceapplication and receiving thereby login credentials from the player. 6.The method of claim 1, wherein the game control application includes aplayer account interface application, and wherein the enablingcommunication between the peripheral computing device and the regulatedgaming machine is responsive, at least in part, to the peripheralcomputing device executing the player account interface application andreceiving thereby login credentials from the player.
 7. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the game control application is configured to displayon the peripheral computing device restricted information associatedwith any of a variety of different wagering games.
 8. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the game control application is configured to displayon the peripheral computing device a customization tool, the methodfurther comprising removing, responsive to a player customizationinstruction received via the customization tool, a type of informationdisplayed via the regulated gaming machine.
 9. The method of claim 1,wherein the game control application is configured to display on theperipheral computing device a customization tool, the method furthercomprising modifying, responsive to a player customization instructionreceived via the customization tool, a manner in which the regulatedgaming machine notifies a player of an award of a winning outcome. 10.The method of claim 1, wherein the game control application isconfigured to display on the peripheral computing device a customizationtool, the method further comprising activating, responsive to a playercustomization instruction received via the customization tool, an alertby which the regulated gaming machine notifies a player of apredetermined occurrence in the wagering game.
 11. The method of claim1, wherein the peripheral computing device is configured to receiveinstructions from the player, the method further comprising receiving,via a peripheral device interface of the regulated gaming machine, theplayer instructions from the peripheral computing device.
 12. The methodof claim 1, wherein the game control application includes a moneytransfer application configured to electronically couple the peripheralcomputing device to a monetary account associated with the player, themethod further comprising transferring funds from the monetary accountto the regulated gaming machine responsive to a transfer instructionreceived from the player by the money transfer application.
 13. A methodcomprising: enabling a player's peripheral computing device tocommunicate with a regulated gaming machine that contemporaneouslydisplays both a wagering game and restricted information associatedtherewith, the gaming machine including a first input device thatreceives a physical item associated with a monetary value to establish acredit balance and a second input device that receives a cashout inputto initiate a payout from the credit balance, the restricted informationcomprising credit information, wager information, award information,monetary information, player information, or any combination thereof;and executing, by the peripheral computing device, a game controlapplication that causes the restricted information to be displayed onthe peripheral computing device but not on the gaming machine.
 14. Aregulated electronic gaming machine primarily dedicated to conducting acasino wagering game, the electronic gaming machine comprising: a gamingcabinet; one or more electronic display devices; one or more electronicinput devices; a peripheral device interface; and game-logic circuitryconfigured to: detect, via at least one of the one or more electronicinput devices, a physical item associated with a monetary value, themonetary value establishing a credit balance that changes based on playof the casino wagering game; receive, via at least one of the one ormore electronic input devices, a wager input indicative of a wager toinitiate the casino wagering game; initiate the casino wagering game inresponse to the wager input indicative of the wager, the wager beingcovered by the credit balance; establish communication with a peripheralcomputing device via the peripheral device interface, the peripheralcomputing device including a device display and a device processorconfigured to execute a game control application to display restrictedinformation on the device display; signaling the device processor toexecute the game control application and display on the device displaythe restricted information comprising credit information, wagerinformation, award information, monetary information, or playerinformation, or any combination thereof, direct the one or moreelectronic display devices to not display the restricted informationdisplayed by the game control application; direct at least one of theone or more electronic display devices to display a randomly determinedoutcome of the casino wagering game; and receive, via at least one ofthe one or more electronic input devices, a cashout input that initiatesa payout from the credit balance.
 15. The electronic gaming machine ofclaim 14, wherein the restricted information displayed by the gamecontrol application includes a credit meter indicating a total number ofcredits available for making wagers, a bet meter indicating a currentsize of the wager, or an award meter indicating a total win amount, ifany, from the most recent play of the casino wagering game, or anycombination thereof.
 16. The electronic gaming machine of claim 14,wherein the peripheral device interface comprises a docking stationconfigured to physically support and electrically connect to theperipheral computing device.
 17. The electronic gaming machine of claim14, wherein the game control application includes a player accountinterface application, the game-logic circuitry being further configuredto establish communication with an electronic player's accountresponsive to the device processor of the peripheral computing deviceexecuting the player account interface application and receiving therebylogin credentials from the player.
 18. The electronic gaming machine ofclaim 14, wherein the game control application includes a player accountinterface application, the game-logic circuitry being further configuredto establish communication with the peripheral computing deviceresponsive, at least in part, to the device processor of the peripheralcomputing device executing the player account interface application andreceiving thereby login credentials from the player.
 19. The electronicgaming machine of claim 14, wherein the game control application isconfigured to display on the device display of the peripheral computingdevice a customization tool, the game-logic circuitry being furtherconfigured to remove, responsive to a player customization instructionreceived via the customization tool, a type of information typicallydisplayed via the one or more electronic display devices.
 20. Theelectronic gaming machine of claim 14, wherein the game controlapplication is configured to display on the device display of theperipheral computing device a customization tool, the game-logiccircuitry being further configured to modify, responsive to a playercustomization instruction received via the customization tool, a mannerin which the electronic gaming machine notifies the player of an awardof a winning outcome.